Tom Green Medal of Courage biography
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by NWHOF
Tom Green’s life changed on May 15, 1997 in a workplace accident when a pipe burst and sprayed potassium hydroxide in his face. Blind from the accident and his face badly burned,
Green, who had also been working as a referee, underwent a series of surgeries. He had a procedure to increase the size of his mouth, which had healed so small that he couldn’t put his thumb in, and a cornea transplant, as well as another rare eye surgery that required a donation from his brother that eventually helped him regain his sight.
With the help of his wife, Mary, and his two sons, Caleb and Cormac, Green has stayed positive while enduring more than 40 surgeries, including reconstructive retinal surgery and a synthetic cornea implant.
One year after the accident, he returned to wrestling as a volunteer assistant coach, helped start a youth program and eventually took over as head wrestling coach for the Port Byron Central School District in Port Byron, New York. Green has led Port Byron to the Patriot League title the last six seasons while being named Coach of the Year seven times.
He is the all-time wins leader at Weedsport High School, and he qualified for nationals at Cayuga Community College and earned all-state honors at SUNY Cortland.
The Medal of Courage recipient is a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, providing inspiration to others.
Green, who had also been working as a referee, underwent a series of surgeries. He had a procedure to increase the size of his mouth, which had healed so small that he couldn’t put his thumb in, and a cornea transplant, as well as another rare eye surgery that required a donation from his brother that eventually helped him regain his sight.
With the help of his wife, Mary, and his two sons, Caleb and Cormac, Green has stayed positive while enduring more than 40 surgeries, including reconstructive retinal surgery and a synthetic cornea implant.
One year after the accident, he returned to wrestling as a volunteer assistant coach, helped start a youth program and eventually took over as head wrestling coach for the Port Byron Central School District in Port Byron, New York. Green has led Port Byron to the Patriot League title the last six seasons while being named Coach of the Year seven times.
He is the all-time wins leader at Weedsport High School, and he qualified for nationals at Cayuga Community College and earned all-state honors at SUNY Cortland.
The Medal of Courage recipient is a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, providing inspiration to others.
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